48o 



NA TURE 



{Sept. 15, 1 88 1 



Journal of the Franklin Institute, August. — Boiler exi'losion 

 in Pliiladelplii.i in June, by W. B Le Van. — Auchincloss's 

 averaging machine. — Rrdio-dynamics II., by P. E. Chase. — The 

 properties of air relating to ventilation and heating, by R. 

 Briggs. 



Annalen der Physik nnd Cliemie, No. 8. — Experimental in- 

 vestigation of the tones v\hich arise in pa-saje of gases through 

 slits, by W. Kohlrauich. — On the observation of air-vibrations 

 in organ-pipes, by R. Konig. — On ihe conductivity of metals 

 for heat and electricity (continued), by L. Lorenz. — On the ap- 

 plication of photometry to the study of the phenomena of diffu- 

 sion in liquids, by S. v. Wroblewski. — Experimental contribu- 

 tion to the theory of influence-machines, by W. Ilolfz. — On the 

 development of polar electricity in hemimorphous crystals by 

 variation of pressure in the direction of the unsyn metrically 

 formed axes, by W. Ilanliel. — On the decomposition of water 

 on platinum electrodes by discharge of Leyden jar-, by F. 

 Streintz. — On the resistance of polarised cells, by E. Cohn. — 

 On the phenomena in Geissler tubes under external action, 

 by E. Reitlinger and H. v. Ur1)anitzky. — Note on the maximum 

 of temporary magneiism in soft iron, by C. Fromme. 



La Nature, Aui^ust. — The air-barometer, by Pr(if. Ferrini. 

 The electro-photometer of Dr. Nachs. — On the electric pheno- 

 mena of Canton's j.ar, l)y Prof. Righi. — On the origin of electri- 

 city in storm-clouds and atmospheric air, and on electricity in 

 general, by Dr. Nachs. — On the direction of sounds and the 

 object of double hearing, by Prof. Pinto. 



Journal de Physique, August. — Researches on the capacity of 

 polirisation (continued), by R. Blondlot. — Discharge of a con- 

 denser, and energy of telephonic currents, by H. PelUt. — On a 

 new interrupter for induction-coils, by M. Deprez. — Note on the 

 registering instruments of MM. Richard freres. 



Bulletin de V Aeademie Royale del Sciences de B.lgique, No. 6. 

 — Note on a new doljihin of New Zealand, by M. van Beneden. 

 —A word on some new infusoria parasitic on Cephalopoda, by 

 M. Frettinger. — Study on the hypophysis of Ascidians and the 

 neighbouring organs (second paper), by M. Julin. — Note on the 

 fossiliferous Porphyroids met with in Brabant, by M. Poussin. 



Reale Istititto Lonihardo di Scienze e Lettere, Rendiconti. 

 Vol. xiv. fa'c. xii., xiii. — Re'earches en the phenomena of 

 sense, motion, circulation, and respiration in hypnotism, and 

 on their modification by testhesiogenic agents, by Prof. Tam- 

 burini and Dr. SepiUi. — On some products of transformation of 

 chinoline, by Prof. Kbrner. — Theorem on linear systems in 

 projective measurements, by Prof. D'Ovidio. — Consequences of 

 pachymeningitis and hematoma of cerebral membranes, by Prof. 

 Sangalli. — Fasc. xiv. — On the small volcano of Querzola in the 

 province of Re^^gio, by S. Taramelli. — On the resistance to pas 

 sage of the voltaic current in an iron wire at different tempca- 

 tures, by Dr. Poloni. 



Rivista Scientifico-Tndustriale, July I and 15. — Determination 

 of vapour density, by Dr. Valente. — Pa'sontol igical peregrin- 

 ations in the Pliocene of Mount Falcone Apennmo, in the pro- 

 vince of Fcrmo (M.arche), by Prof. .Spada. — On determination 

 of the electromotive force of the Voltaic couple by Fuchs' 

 method, by Dr. Guglielmo. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, September 5. — M. Wurtz in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read: — The direct-vision 

 spectroscope ajiplied to physical astronomy, by M. Zenger. 

 One may (as before shown) compound refringent media who'e 

 index for the red ray A is less than that of crown gliss or quartz, 

 while the index for the violet ray H is much greater. The 

 spectrum so produced is fan-shaped, and, with a single dispej-- 

 sion parallelepiped (two similar prisms with their refringent 

 angles oppi^ite), may be made of considerable length (25° and 

 more). With o' e arrangement all the rays, except blue or red, 

 miy be eliminated, and the sun, e.g., viewed in monochromatic 

 light. M. Zenger specifies vari lus combinations of qnartz or 

 crown glass with anethol, benzene, alcohol, &c. He obtains 

 effects equal to those of the most powerful spectroscopes hitherto 

 made. — Influence of nutrition on poisoning with strychnine, by 

 M. Delaunay. Strychnine affects more quickly .and intensely 

 strong frogs than weak ones ; frogs well fed than those which 



have been fasting ; frogs that have been in vigorous exercise 

 than those at rest ; frogs that are exercised immediately 

 after injection than those which are not ; a frog hung 

 liy the leg than one hung by the head ; an intact frog 

 than one which has been bled ; the right side of frogs 

 than the left, &c.— Ob ervatiors of Cruls' comet (* 1881) 

 at Marseilles Observatory, with an equatorial of o'26jci. aper- 

 ture, by MM. Borelly and Coggia. — Observations of Scha- 

 berle's comet (r 1 881) in the same way and place, by M. Coggia. 

 — Observations of Encke's comet, by M. Tempel. He observed 

 it on the 21st ult. A letter from M. Loewy stated that M. 

 Struve f nnd it on the 24th (MM. Winnecke and Hartwig at 

 Strasburg about the same time). The comet (according to M. 

 Tempel) was large, but very diffuse, without nucleus or conden- 

 fation towards the centre, and so, very difficult to observe. — On 

 the light of comets, by M. Res| ighi. He considers we are 

 not yet in a posi ion to say that comets have a lijht of their 

 own, due to incandescence of cometrry matter. 'Ihe discon- 

 tinuity of the spectrum, and the bright lines and binds, may 

 arise from reflected light as affected in traver.-ing the gases and 

 vapours of the comet ; the same cause as affects the spectrum of 

 the sun when near the horizon. Only the phenomenon is ex- 

 aggerated in comets by reason of the enormous thickness of the 

 absorbent layers, thtir richness of chemical composition, and the 

 weakness of the light they reflect to u-. — On observations of 

 meteors from July 25 to 30, 188 1, by M. Cruls (Rio). More 

 than 90 per cent, of the meteors seemed to radiate from near 

 Fomalhaut. The horary average increased rapidly between the 

 evening and morning hours, and there was a remarkable recru- 

 de-cence shortly before sunrise. It would thus seem that the 

 stream of meteors moves in opposite direction to the earth. 

 This is corroborated by the fact that the morning meteors, espe- 

 cially after 5 a.m., all moved with great velocity, and were very 

 brilliant. Tt;ey were all sensibly displaced in the pUne of the 

 ecliptic ; their direction is probably very little inclined to this 

 plane. — On ferruginous carbonated waters, by M. Ville. 

 Neutral alkaline carbonates precipitate such water immediately ; 

 neutral alkaline earthy carbonates also have this effect, bnt 

 more slowly. Alkaline and alkaline-earthy bicarbonates do not 

 alter ferruginous water. Chlorides and sulphates sensibly 

 retard the decomposition of ferruginous water in air. The 

 disturbing influence of neutral alkaline carbonates may explain 

 the relation between the richness of ferruginous carbonated 

 waters and the presence of these saline compounds. The action 

 of neutral carbonate of calcium explains the existence of con- 

 siderable beds of limoni'e in calcareous strata. — On absorption 

 by the vesical mucus, by MM. Cazeneuve and I.eoine. The 

 sound bladder absorbs the normal elements of urine. Certain 

 toxical or medicamentary substances [e.^., sulphate of strych- 

 nine) aie not absorbed. — On experimental tuberculosis, by M. 

 Crunet. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



The Theokv OF Descent. Bv Alfred R. Wallace 457 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Ccnway's " Wanderine Jew " 458 



Bird's •• Short Skelcli of the Geology of Yorkshire " ; " Geol igc.il 



iMapofYorkshfre'- 458 



LETTEhS TO THE KdITOR : — 



Leaves Injured at Night by Free Radiation. -Chaeles D.'.ewin, 



FRS 4=9 



Red Rainbr.w. — Prof. Silvanus P.Thompson; David Murray 459 



Atoms.— Dr. Henry Muirhead 459 



Luminous Phenomena on Rupture of Sea-Ice.— Capt. J. ALLEN 



Allen 459 



Tidal Currents l'c>-i«s Wind Waves.— G H. Kinahan .... 460 



Glaciation.— Joseph John MtTRTHY 4''o 



Yellow Glass in Fog.— R 460 



The New Museum of Natural History.— E. H. Pringle . ... 4^0 



On the Velocity of Light.— Albert A. MiCHELSON 460 



Salmon in Preserved Rivers.— F. C. S 461 



A New Seismometer.— S. E. Peal 461 



The British Association 4'^i 



Reports 462 



Secti n A— Mathematical and Physical 463 



Section B— Chemical Science 467 



Section C— Geology 47i 



Notes 475 



Oi'R AsTRONo.MiCAL Column : — 



The Dearborn Observatory, Chicago 477 



The Washbnrn Observatory, Wisconsin 478 



Schaberle's Comet 47^ 



Encke's Comet 47? 



Elongations of Mimas 478 



GsoGKAiHICAL Notes 478 



Scientific Serials 479 



Societies AND Academies .... 480 



